For some Emperors the mints recorded special honorific titles. Here is a new addition to my collection, Probus with the title DEO ET DOMINO (to the god and lord). I think this particular title had first been given to Aurelian. I think pompous titles like this suggest that the transition from the principate to the dominate, which historians locate during the reign of Diocletian happened much earlier. Mint: Serdica Post your coins with special or unusual titles!
Seems like I read somewhere that Domitian first used that title while living, but I don’t think it’s ever attested on a coin. I’m not sure where that tradition comes from. A pretty shocking obverse legend, in my opinion. Perhaps I am too easily shocked.
On coins these titles were used by Aurelian, Probus, and Carus. Minted only in Serdica and Siscia Aurelian's inscription DEO ET DOMINO NATO AVRELIANO INVICTO AVG being most impressive https://tinyurl.com/2rfzp4t4 Nice coin (English understatement !) Klaus
I don't know if these count, you rarely see them with this front text. CONSTANTINUS II befor April 340: obv: VIC CONSTA-NTINUS AVG ( c9 ) rev: VIRTUS-AUGUSTI ( VA (a)) RIC VIII nr 4 mm: R leaf (P or T) not present 1,77 gram 15 mm obv: VIC CONSTANTINUS AVG ( c10 ) rev: GLOR-IAEXERC-ITUS ( GE ) RIC VIII nr 50 mm: branch R ( p or Q ) branch ( not present ) 1,17 gram 15,20 mm
Here is another Probus Antoninian with special title, from my collection: BONO ET INVICTO (to the good and invincible)
I just realized today that many regular members of this forum are no longer active, but have moved to another forum. I cross posted this thread at the other forum, to see if there is more interest. Not sure though. Its a real shame that things have come this.
I find it fascinating that unlike emperors elevated to divus ("divine") by the Senate posthumously, Probus here is deus, a full living "god" like Jupiter or Mars, a god from the get-go... One could make much of such a distinction but I wonder if, to a Roman of the period, it was simply that divus was only appropriate for the dead? Interestingly, both divus and deus translate to θεός ("god") in Greek. The Latin divi filius ("divine son") as used by Augustus on a number of coins becomes in Greek θεοῦ υἱός ("son of god"), the same title used of Jesus in the Christian gospels! And yes, the Greek version is found on a handful of provincials.
Hi All, An example to illustrate the point made. See obverse. Ex-Elsen 18-Mar-2000, Auction #61 Lot #766. - Broucheion
